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Make Your Own Natural Sunscreen

By Jerry Goode;

Summer is about having fun in the sun, but nowadays we have
to protect our skin from the harmful UVA and UVB rays. We undoubtedly need some
sort of sunscreen, but do we have to use something with chemicals that are
neither beneficial to us or the environment. Here is a very simple way to make
your own natural sunscreen at home. Keep in mind with the lack of ozone there
really is no "safe" tan, however if you decide to not be a hermit
this will definitely help like any other sunscreen.

The first ingredient you will need for this sunscreen is olive oil, or you can
experiment with different kinds of oil that are safe for your skin like vitamin
E rich avocado oil. Next you will need beeswax and zinc oxide or titanium
dioxide. Both should be available at many natural stores or online. Titanium
dioxide works a bit better albeit somewhat harder to find. Either one is the
"active" ingredient and is what actually protects you. The beeswax is
what holds the oxide evenly throughout the sunscreen. You can change the ratio
of wax to oil to your liking as well.

1. Heat the oil in a pan over low flame.
2. Add crumbled beeswax.
3. Keep stirring until the beeswax is completely melted.
4. While stirring add the zinc oxide or titanium dioxide slowly.
5. Carefully pour into a glass or ceramic container that can be covered.
6. Once cooled, it’s ready for application.

A couple precautions should be taken. First of all avoid breathing either the
powdered zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as it may be a health risk. Second it
might be a good idea to dedicate a particular pan, spoon, and any other
utensils used for this purpose only, no longer to make food. Lastly, when
applying, make sure the oxide has not settled during cooling. If the sunscreen
looks translucent, stir up the oxide to get that opaque color.

Hope this provides an alternative to the chemical-laden sunscreens. It is a
small step towards not using chemical products while, not to mention, saving
some green in the process. And please remember that sunscreen is not a complete
solution for the sun's rays and is not an unlimited time in the sun pass.

About the Author: Jerry went to Southern Illinois University where he majored in
Automotive Technology while studying a myriad of other subjects such as
English, Spanish, French, Nutrition, and many others. Throughout his
life, Jerry has always been into sports, understanding how they affect
the body and mind. Jerry also grew up learning how to make food from
scratch knowing fully how nutrition plays such an important part of our
lives. Falling prey to processed foods for a short stint made Jerry
realize how badly they affect us and our environment. At this point in
time Jerry is opting to go vegetarian, look for more articles relating
on that and how we can all help the earth with eco-saving tips.

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